Pet lovers visiting Walt Disney World Resort can now plan to board the family pet in fun, luxurious new accommodations. Reservations are being accepted for pet boarding stays beginning August 27, 2010 for the new Best Friends Pet Care Resort. The one-of-a-kind resort comprises more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs and play areas, and an expansive private dog park exclusively for the use of pet resort clients and their dogs.

Disney Junior, which will be a rebranding of Playhouse Disney on the Disney Channel in 2011 as well as a new channel replacing SOAPnet (in 2012), has announced its first original series, ‘Doc McStuffins’ according to Variety.

The health-focused series revolves around a 6 year old who actively communicates with and tends to ‘stuffed animals and toys.’ It was created by Christine Nee, whose resume reads like a who’s who of children’s television writing, particularly with popular Nick Jr. shows. ‘Rugrats’ director Norton Virgien is set to direct.

Still coming down off the high off of the debut of Disney Store’s Imagination Park concept, it’s time to offer a new fix in way of what we can expect from the Disney Store this holiday season thanks to the Disney Consumer Products Holiday Tour which is finishing up its New York leg today.

But first, with New York in mind, here’s some information on the Disney Store Times Square in New York City that we’re eager to share. The store is slated to open in November, just in time for the holiday season. I got to watch a short video with a very hoarse Disney Store President Jim Fielding on a recent visit to the new space located in the heart of Times Square. There’s really nothing to report inside (at least not downstairs), but there was some plywood concept art type stuff along the side of the escalator. Although he has declined to call it a flagship store elsewhere, Fielding has previously stated this will be the largest Disney Store, encompassing two floors. In the video, he explains that while the second floor will be the Imagination Park concept, the entire first floor will be devoted to exclusive Disney-NYC branded merchandise.

Before being introduced to the new product lines and the holiday theme and products, I was also informed that (select) Disney Store locations will be selling vinylmations and that there are planned Disney Store exclusives on their way as well.

With Walt Disney Animation Studios presenting Tangled in November, there is a whole line of products rolling out soon to support it, but rather than repeat it all here, we refer you to the original article covering the Tangled products from Disney Store and Disney Consumer Products. We also covered most of the Disney/Pixar Toy Story and Cars product news in this article.

That brings us to the new line of Disney Princess Singing dolls which we first touched upon in the Tangled report. Although they are not the final bodies, the articulated dolls feature a small, easily-accessible button in their right hands. When pressed, the doll plays a fifteen second snippet of the princess’ respective iconic song in a cappella style. In order to do this, Disney Store enlisted all of the original voice actresses (except for Cinderella and Aurora) to record the song especially for the dolls. All of the arrangements are unique and performed to the liking of the performer, so while Anika Noni Rose’s Almost There is relatively what one is used to, Jodi Benson delivers a true but breathy performance of Part of Your World while Paige O’Hara’s Belle and Lea Salonga’s A Whole New World provide powerful and border-line operatic performances. The dolls, marketed as toys moreso than collectibles, are an unusual 17″ tall and will retail for $29.50 each.

Just in time for the home video release of Beauty and the Beast will be an extensive collection celebrating Belle and her enchanted friends aimed at every one from the toddler to the serious collector.

As a follow-up to the extremely popular limited edition deluxe Snow White dress which sold out, Disney Store will be introducing a very lush Belle dress limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide and retailing for $149.50. But perhaps the most exciting news, while not on display, is word of a whole line of high-end collectibles described as (air quotes) ‘life-size replicas’ (end air quotes) based on the enchanted friends. Specifically, there will be a Cogsworth at his character’s respective height which will be fully operational clock; a Lumiere which will hold candles; and a Mrs. Potts fully detailed china set — you get the idea. Unfortunately there are no plans for a life-size replica Belle at the present time.

Thanks to a tip from HeyUGuys.co.uk, we have learned that Amazon.com has updated its description for the October release of Beauty and the Beast on Disney Blu-ray and DVD to include details on some of the extras that can be found on the disc set.

According to Amazon.com, in addition to the original DVD extras, the new release adds:

Some of the more exciting recent news to come out of Walt Disney Studios came from Disney’s Don Hahn via Empire Online.

Hahn, who has recently finished a 3D conversion of Beauty and the Beast and is currently working with Tim Burton on a feature-length version of Burton’s short Frankenweenie told the site that he’ll soon be working on getting The Lion King 3D conversion underway. In the past, Hahn has entertained the idea of converting other Disney animated classics to 3D but has stopped short of making any promises, most likely waiting to see where Beauty landed. Missing its target of Valentine’s Day 2010 and despite a Blu-ray release and huge marketing push this fall, we can still anticipate seeing the 3D film next year. Buzz on the conversion has been overwhelmingly positive.

Today Disney unveiled Golden Oak, a one-of-a-kind luxury residential resort community offering the unprecedented opportunity to purchase a home at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Especially designed for resort living, Golden Oak will provide an entirely new way for families to connect with the world’s best known family destination and entertainment brand.

“We have a range of options for Guests at all price points to enjoy the Walt Disney World Resort. But Golden Oak is something totally new: a residential resort community, right in the heart of the magic,” said Matt Kelly, vice president, Disney Resort Real Estate Development. “Golden Oak will be a place where families can come together and make memories for generations to come–with Disney World right at their doorstep.”

Vinylmation has officially confirmed what we first told you yesterday on Twitter, that select Disney Store locations (including the new Imagination Park store in Montebello, CA) will begin carrying vinylmation figures which included the previously unreleased Toy Story (including many figures from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3) and Have a Laugh series pictured to the left.

We also announced that not only will stores be carrying vinylmation, they will also have their own exclusives.

For those wondering when these series will become available at the Parks, we were told by a reader who inquired at D-Street at Walt Disney World that they should start appearing within the week.

Disney Consumer Products kicked off its 2010 holiday tour this past week in New York City and brought representatives from every division imaginable to show off all of the new wonderful products you’ll be finding on the shelves this holiday season and we were there to help spread all the joy with you.

Many of the items from Disney Store are old favorites packaged in new ways with exclusive bonus items. For example, the Cars Toons diecast cars will be packaged as a collectible bundle for $119.50 and includes Mia and Tia as exclusives (actual cars not on display). Toy Story 3 collectible figures will be bundled together ($69.50 full retail), offering Lotso and the Alien trio as exclusives.